An ambitious privatisation programme could revitalise the Bucharest Stock Exchange, but there are still many hurdles in place preventing a boost in activity.

Erste Group CEO Andreas Treichl is comfortable that his Austrian bank represents a call option on prospects in central and eastern Europe.

Over the past decade, Greece's leading banks have expanded into south-east Europe. To remain competitive, however, they will now need to weather the financial storm and continue to focus on increasing their presence in the Balkans and the rest of eastern Europe. Writer Kerin Hope

BCR’s interim CEO is confident that the bank’s transformation will allow it to capitalise on the opportunities presented by one of Europe’s fastest-growing economies, he tells Philip Alexander .

In theory, joining the EU should force a country to adopt greater policy discipline. In practice, Romania’s muddy political waters and an appetite for spending are about to magnify its vulnerabilities, putting fiscal and monetary policy at odds, writes Adina Postelnicu .

With EU accession and a strengthening economy, Romanians may be increasingly positive about their future, but tough challenges remain. Neil Tyler reports.

As Romania prepares to join the EU next year, governor of the National Bank of Romania Mugur Isarescu talks to Adina Postelnicu in Bucharest.